§ Mr. HuttonTo ask The Prime Minister how many permanent secretaries, deputy secretaries and under secretaries left the civil service and subsequently took up appointments in the private sector since 1979; what was the average interval between leaving the service and taking up appointment in the private sector; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 12 April 1994]: Precise numbers could be obtained only at disproportionate 373W cost. However, examination of a substantial sample of applications for approval to take appointments by civil servants in grades 1, 1A, 2 and 3 since 1984 shows an average interval of 3.4 months between leaving the service and proposed date of taking up a first private sector appointment. Not all appointments are necessarily taken up. Applications to take up second and subsequent appointments after leaving are not included in the average.